Resilient wheel



Aug. 19, 1924.

F. v; ELBERTZ ET AL.

RESILTENT WHEEL Filed Feb. 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Rsi.

' FQZ.

FRNK ELBERT z- CXWSEPPE. Fama ARL Aug. 19, 1924. V1,505,247

F. V. ELBERTZ, ET AL RESLLIENT WHEEL FilFeb. 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Shut 2 lol lll li T traan-i f ya.

FRANK v. nnnnnfrz ann Gruen-rra rnnaani, ornnfrnotr, MIoHreAN; serp Eisenerzr assiettes. To sain rasanten Y l f ynnsinrn'nr' WHEEL.

.Application filed February 3 To all fte/"10m` t may conce/rn:

Be it known that we, FRANK V. Erinnern and Grosnrrn FERRARI, both citizens of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of l/Vayneand State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in llesilient llVheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being' had therein to the accompanying' drawings. n y* The invention relates to resilientv wheels of that type in which an annularouter secy tion of the wheel is normally supported upon a conical scat member, which is laterally resiliently displaceable topermit the radialv member. y

displacement of said annular lVith wheels of this type it is necessary to provide guides :for holding the radially displaceable annular member in itsplane, and

as the wheel is exposed to the dust of thek road it is desirable to protect suchguide bearings from the grit. Also, it is desirable to lubricatethe laterally displaceable conical member and to prevent lthe escape of this lubricant from the wheel.,` Vile have therefore devised a construction-,which accomplishes those desired results, which is' shown in the accompanying` drawings:

Fin-ure l is a cross-section through the hub of the wheel; v y

Figure is a sectional elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a view similar to ligure l showing the parts in a different position of adjustment;

wheel comprises a series of spokes@ which are mounted 1n an inner annularmetallic lmember lil. YThis member is provided `with a conical seat portion l and ai surrounding.

annular flange fl, which latter forms an abutment for the inner ends of the spolres.

The spokes are clampedbetween the member H and an annular *clamping plate K..

There is also provided an annularplate L,

which is spaced from the member'jl and se'-l cured to 'anoutwardly offsetperipheral por- Figure 4l is an elevation of they complete 6, y1922. Seriallq'o. 534,414.

tion M thereof, thereby forming between said plates an annular pocket. This pocket .receives an `annular flange N having an ofiset portion Npy formed integral with the hub having provided on opposite sides thereofv suitable y facing material 0, such, for instance, as vusedrfor brake linings. The outer diameter of the flange N is less than that of theperipheral portion Meli' the memberK y ,andthusa radial displacementis permitted,

While the plane ofthe wheel is maintained constant-.by the members N', Kand L.

The bearing for the yannular member'upon the hubis formed by a conical annular member P that is sleeved on the outer cylindrical surfacefof the hub and that is normally within the flange N. This member P is in engagement `,with a heavy coiled .spring @,which, at ,its outer end, abuts against a bearing ina cap member S retained by the hub cap E.. They arrangement is suchv that whenever there ris an excessive radial load `or shock which will displace the annular outer portion of the Wheel,this will. force the conical member P laterally against the tension kof the spring' @and upon the relief of thelload or the shock, said conical member, under the actuation ofthe spring, will again restore the annular member to concentric relation.

y Ashes been stated, `it is'important to keep the dust v,and grit from contact with the vbearingsot the wheel. This we accomplish by` dust ,ajuards upon opposite sidesv ofthe Wheel, which are of they following Iconstruction: `T is an annular member, preferably formed of sheet metal, that has a flange T f at its inner edge extending' across the space between the flange N and the brake drum F. Y is a similar sheet metal'lannular member ,havingy a flange yU', whichperipherally engages thebralre drum and which at its y 'y inner `edge iserrangfed between they member The radially displaceable portion of Y packing ririgsiklf.,r v

A vsimilar llitli the construct-ion as described, in use, the tension of the spring Q, will normally force the conical member P inward so as tofully engage the conical bearing l to center the same with the axisfof the wheel. `ilheii, however, there is a radial shock or excessive load, the pressure of the conical bearing I against the conical member P will force the latter outward, permitting a radial displacement of the outer portion of he wheel, after which the resiliency of' the spring will restore the parts to normal concentric relation. The cavity surrounding the hub in which the member P is located may be filled with lubricant which covers all of the Aworking surfaces, including the'facings G. Escape of this lubricant is,

. hoigvever, prevented by the seals formed bv the members T, Y, W, X, and S in cooperation with the aching rin s V and Y. rlhe same construction prevents the ingress of dust or gritand preserves the bearings from e in ury.

J@ne important fea-ture of the invention is that the energy of shocks, which cause a radial displacement of the wheel, is, to a great extent, frictionally absorbed so as to prevent v sudden recoil. rI lhis is accomplished by the facings of fibrous or friction material upon the hub flange, which resist displacementand retard the action. Conseqiieiitly, instead of a violent recoil, the radial movement of the wheel is slowed down.

lf the wheel is used as a driving wheel, the torque is transmitted .trom the hub to the annular member through a driving pin. This as shown consists of the pin Z, prefer.- ably with Vthe roller Z surrounding the sanieand with the anti-friction roller bearings Z2 therebetween. The flange N on the hub is provided with a radial slot at one point thereof, forming the guides Z3 for engaging the roller Z. Thus, in operation,

' the annular member is free to be radially rdisplaced in' any direction and will at `all times be driven by the roller Z.

llllliat we claim Aas our invention is:

l. ln a wheel, the combination with a hub, of a conical bearing member axially slidable upon said hub, a spring for yieldably holding said bearing from axial movement, an -outerannular wheel member including a plurality of radial spoles and an inner ring member,` the latter being-provided with a conical 'seat for engaging saidy conical bearing, a flange on said hub member extending v parallel to the plane of rotation,..spaced plates on said ring member forming a recess for the reception of'said flange, fibrous wearing material' betweeny said flange and .spaced plates, a hub casing for enclosing said .conical 'bearing and spring, said casing having a portion parallel to and spaced from said annular wheel member, and sealing means between said `hub casing and said `outer annular member, permitting the radial movement of the latter and adapted to retain lubricant Within said casing and to exclude the entrance of dust Y 2. ln a wheel, the combination with a hub, of a conical bearing member axially slidable on said hub, a spring for yieldably resisting movement 4of said bearing member, an outer annular wheel member provided with a coni-- ecal seat for engaging. said conical bearing, plates parallel to the plane of rotation on said hub and annular member for holding` the latter in said plane 'of rotation, fibrous facings between the adjacent faces of said plates, sealing members secured to said annular member and hub having annular portions aiid portions extending parallel Y to each other and to the plane of rotation, and fibrous rings between said sealing members. 3. The 4combination with a hub, of a conical member" axially slidable on said hub,

a spring for yieldably holding said bearing member lfrom axial movement, an outer annular wheel member having a conical seat for engaging said conicalbearing, coacting` lOl) and n rous packing between the overlapped l portions of'said plates,

el. ln a wheel, the combination with a hub, n of a conical bearing member axially slidable upon said hub, a spring` for yield ably holding said bearing member from axial movement, a brake drumv having a flange parallel to the plane of rotation secured to said hub, an outer annular wheel member having a coni- 'cal seat for engaging said conical bearing and provided with spaced parallel plates, a

flange on'said hub spaced from the flange on said bralre drum and lengaging the recess between said spaced parallel plates,`ove r lapping sheet metal members arranged between said bralre drum flangeA and one ofk said plates on said annular member and secured respectively thereto, and paclring material between said sheet metal members for forming a dust and oil seal.

5. In a wheel, the combination with a hub. of a conical bearing member axially slidable uponv saidl hub, a spring for yieldablv holding said bearing member from axial movement, a brake drum having a flange parallel to the plane of rotation and secured to saidy hub, an outer annular wheel member having i a conical seat for engagement with said conical bearing and provided with spaced parallel plates, a flange on said hubspaced :trom the flange on said brake drum and engaging the recess between said spaced parallel plates, a sheet metal memberarranged between said brake drum and one ol" said plates, and

packing` material carried by said sheet metal nular wheel member and said hub for retaining lubricant and excluding dust.

7. ln a wheel, the combination with a hub, of a conical bearing axially slidable upon said hub, an outer annular member provided with a conical seat normally supported on said conical bearing, a spring for yieldably resisting the axial movement of said conical bearing, an annular plate secured to said annular member and having anotlset portion, an annular plate secured to said offset portion, an annular iiange formed onv said hub movable between said plates, and a` tacing of friction material upon opposite sides ot said flange for taking the wear and tor sealing the joint therebetween.

8. ln a wheel, the combination with a hub, ot' a flange extending radially outward therefrom, anannular outer wheel member universally radially displaceable with respect to said hub and provided with spaced bearing plates for engaging'said lange, said `flange having a slot formed therein, a driving pin movable in the slot in, said flange, a roller surrounding said pin and engageable with the sides ot said slot, and anti-friction bearings between said roller and pin.

9. In a wheel, the combinationy with a hub, of a conical bearing axially slidable on said hub, yieldable means for holding said bearing from axial movement, an outer wheel member having a conical seat for engage ment with said conical bearing and provided with spaced plates, and a flange between said spaced plates and normally `surrounding said conical bearing, said flange having an odset portion secured to said hub.

l0., In a wheel, the combination with a hub, of a conical bearing member axially slidable upon said hub, yieldable means for holding said bearing member from axial movement, an outer wheel vmember having a conical seat tor engagement "with, said conical bearing and provided with spaced plates, a flange onI said hub disposed in the recess between said spacedy plates, a brake drum having a flange parallel. to the plane of' rotation and secured to said hub, and a dust guard secured to said hub and arranged between said brake drum and one of said plates.

l1. In a wheel, the combination with a hub, of a conical bearing member axially slidable upon said hub, yieldable means for' holdingfsaid vbearing member from kaxial movement, an outer wheel member having a conical seat for engagement vwith said conical bearing and provided with spaced plates, a flange on said hub disposed in the recess between said spaced plates, a brak drum having a flange parallel to the plane of rotation and secured to said hub, an annular member arranged between said brake drum and. one of said plates, and packing material carried by said annular member for forming a dust and oil seal.

12. ln a wheel, the combination with. a hub, of a conical bearing member axially slidable upon said hub, yieldable means for holding said bearing member from axial movement, an outerk wheel member having a conical seat tor engagement with said conical bearing and provided with spaced plates, a flange on said hub disposed in the .recess between said spaced plates, a brake drum having a 'flange parallel to the plane of rotation and secured'to said hub, a sheet metal member arranged between said brake drum and one or said plates, and packing material carried by said sheet metalmember for forming a dust and oil seal.

13.111 a wheel, the combination with a. hub and ya brake drum secured thereto, of

a conical bearing axially slidable on said hub, an outer 'annular wheel member having a conical seat tor engaging said conical bearing, ra yieldable element tor resisting the axial movement of said bearing, coacting parallel faces on said hub and outer annular member for holding the latter in the plane of rotation, and means for' sealing the joint between said outer annular wheel member and said hub for retaining lubricant and excluding dust, said sealing means including plates securedrespectively to said bralre drum and wheel member, said plates having portions arranged in overlapped relation, and packing rings between the overlapped `portions of said plates In testimony whereoic 'we ai'iix our signatures.

FRANK V. ELBERTZ. GIUSEPPE FERRARI.` 

